Approval rates
Understanding how a judge compares to their peers requires looking at data from the same timeframe. The most relevant benchmark is the range of approval rates among the 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the Tacoma hearing office. With 417 decisions on record since 2016, the data provides a clear view of past activity. Aggregate rates describe past decisions, not predictions for your individual hearing.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Duncan. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 29, 2017. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Duncan's docket. Annual rates fluctuate with the mix of cases SSA assigns; the longer-run pattern is more informative than any single year.
Decision pattern
The approval rate for Gene Duncan across 417 decisions on record since January 2016 stands at 78%. The yearly trend shows an approval rate of 81% in 2016, followed by 70% in 2017. This shift reflects the data captured during the judge's time at the Tacoma office. Because case mix and evidence quality vary significantly from one hearing to the next, these yearly figures represent a snapshot of past performance rather than a fixed rule for your future outcome.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Duncan's bench. Judge-specific preparation guidance requires a corpus of public Appeals Council decisions involving each judge, which we haven't built yet.
- Bring a clean treating-physician record. Longitudinal primary-care or specialist notes spanning the disability period, with consistent symptom documentation, are typically the strongest evidence at hearing. A single month's records usually aren't enough.
- Don't rely on consultative exams alone. If your medical evidence is built primarily around a one-time CE finding, expect detailed questioning. Supplement with treating-source statements where possible.
- Prepare for daily-activity questions. Have honest, specific answers about a typical day. Answers that conflict with the medical record (in either direction) tend to hurt credibility.
- Expect transferable-skills probing. A vocational expert will usually testify about jobs available to someone with your limitations. Your representative should be prepared to cross-examine.
About the Tacoma hearing office
The Tacoma hearing office serves you if you are in Washington and the surrounding region. There are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is this one, and the office-wide latest-period approval rate is 58%. If you are appearing at this office, you should be prepared for a thorough review of your medical records and vocational history.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Tacoma
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning the judge you draw is essentially random. There are 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the Tacoma hearing office, with approval rates ranging from 30% to 78% on their since-2016 records. Because you cannot choose your judge, focusing on the strength of your medical evidence is the most effective way to prepare.
Approval rates change with a lawyer
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.
Frequently asked questions
Gene Duncan has an approval rate of 78% based on 417 decisions on record since 2016. This places the judge at the top of the range for the 17 judges whose most recent office on record is the Tacoma hearing office, where rates vary from 30% to 78%. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this bench.
The approval rate for Gene Duncan was 81% in 2016 and 70% in 2017. These figures are based on 417 total decisions on record. An attorney can help you understand how these past trends might relate to the current evidence in your case.
No. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. You cannot request a specific judge, which is why working with an attorney to build a strong case is essential regardless of who is assigned to your hearing. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal but non-adversarial proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical and vocational evidence. You will likely testify about your limitations, and a vocational expert may be present to discuss potential work. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical records for the hearing.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. While Gene Duncan has a 78% approval rate on record since 2016, every case is decided on its own merits and the quality of the evidence you provide. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths and prepare for the hearing process.
